Nikon Announces World’s First Built-In, Wi-Fi Enabled Compact Digital Cameras

By | September 5th, 2005 comments icon (3) Comments


nikon coolpix p1Nikon is redefining the digital camera shooting experience with the announcement of two new revolutionary Wi-Fi enabled models. The Coolpix P1 and P2 are the world’s first built-in Wi-Fi-enabled digital cameras to hit the marketplace. These groundbreaking cameras allow consumers to immediately transmit images wirelessly directly to a computer or to any PictBridge-enabled printer equipped with the optional Nikon Wireless Printer Adapter (PD-10), for wireless printing.

“The new Coolpix P1 and P2 literally pull the plug on digital imaging while highlighting Nikon’s commitment to providing consumers with the latest in digital imaging technology,” says Bill Giordano, General Manager of Marketing for Nikon, Inc. “These models give consumers the freedom, with the push of a button, to immediately share and print their images like never before.”

The Coolpix eight-megapixel P1 and the five-megapixel P2 are the world’s first digital cameras with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities to transmit images via 802.11b and 802.11g-compatible wireless networks and adapters to a computer or most PictBridge-enabled printers equipped with the new Nikon Wireless Printer Adapter (PD-10). Eliminating the need for extra wires or cables, the new models allow consumers to send images from the camera direct to a selected computer or printer with the touch of a button. With a range of up to 100 feet*, the P1 and P2 enable users to transfer images on-the-go from almost anywhere in a home, office-even from the backyard.

Offering unprecedented freedom and convenience, users can wirelessly transfer and view images in a variety of ways, including:

Shoot and Transfer Mode
As images are taken, they are transferred immediately to the computer. With Nikon’s Picture Project software, slide shows can be automatically built with the transferred images added as they are being shot.

Easy Transfer Mode
Images can be transferred by a specific date, individually as marked or manually transferred to a computer after they are taken. In this mode only new images will be transferred to eliminate duplication.

Wireless Print
Using the optional Wireless Printer Adapter (PD-10), users can wirelessly print directly from the camera (without a computer) or when using the included PictureProject 1.6 software, images can be sent to the computer and automatically printed.

Nikon Coolpix P1 and P2 cameras and PictureProject software work together seamlessly to make wireless photo transfer as easy as 1-2-3. For easy set-up and control, the P1 and P2 come with a complimentary copy of Nikon PictureProject 1.6 and the new easy-to-use Wireless Camera Setup Utility, which uses a simple seven-step Wizard that will configure the cameras for wireless operation. The latest version of PictureProject offers convenient options allowing users, for example, to import wireless images automatically into a slideshow as well as tools to edit, organize, design and share images. The software is designed to extend the enjoyment of taking pictures: transferring images from camera to computer, organizing images so they are easy to find, editing them to add an extra sparkle, designing ways to show off the pictures and sharing them with friends and family.

At the heart of the new models is Nikon’s innovative and exclusive suite of in-camera technology that makes it easy to capture great pictures before they leave the camera. To ensure sharp images, the Face-Priority AF function makes certain that faces remain in focus when shooting portraits by automatically sensing the presence of a human face within the frame and setting accurate focus accordingly. The In-Camera Red-Eye Fix(TM) technology automatically detects and corrects red eyes in an image while the D-Lighting function automatically compensates for insufficient flash or excessive backlighting. To ensure a crisp, clear image before leaving the scene, Blur Warning will alert the user that a shot has been compromised.

True to the line of Nikon cameras, the Coolpix P1 and P2 offer a high- quality 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor Glass lens with a focal range equivalent to that of a 36-126mm lens in 35mm format. For greater control and creativity, both models feature Aperture-Priority Auto mode with 10-step manual control in 1/3EV increments and 11 of the camera’s 16 Scene Modes are Advanced Scene modes for even greater creative control of the end result.

The Coolpix P1 and P2 can record high-quality movies at a rate of up to 30 fps with a choice of seven movie modes with sound recording in six of those modes. A Time-Lapse function enables the user to capture events occurring over an extended period of time.

The newly designed models are compact and lightweight, measuring just 3.6 x 2.4 x 1.5 inches and weighing six ounces** and offer an incredible, bright 2.5-inch LCD for easy viewing in all conditions.

The Coolpix P1 and P2 will be available in September 2005 with a MSRP of $549.95 and $399.95, respectively. The Wireless Print Adaptor (PD-10) will be available in October 2005 with an MSRP of $49.95. For more information about these models and other Coolpix cameras, please visit http://www.nikondigital.com.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image(TM). Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon Coolpix(R) compact digital cameras; Coolscan(R) digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon’s Exclusive Feature System, making it easy for anyone to take amazing digital pictures. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative(TM), the company, plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.





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  • Simon_Mackay

    Hi any of you who have bought or are in a position of trying out this camera!

    This camera, once set up with a computer that runs Windows Media Connect or similar UPnP Media Server software, can really come in to its own during events like weddings or school proms where there are people taking “candid” shots with this camera.

    You have the camera and a PC loaded with Picture Project associated with the a wireless network. You also have a UPnP Media Renderer like the D-Link DSM-320 network media receiver also on the same network and connected to the big screen TV. The Media Server program should present the working directory that is being used by Picture Project. for the pictures that are being captured from the camera and the Media Renderer device should be set up to point to the Media Server and exhibit the pictures on the TV as a continuous slide show.

    This may work well if the Media Server presents more pictures to the Media Renderer as they arrive and as the collection changes.

    With regards,

    Simon Mackay

  • http://www.alexandergrundner.com Alexander Grundner

    Simon, I read this blurb over at Macworld:

    Communication can take place two ways: in ad hoc mode a direct connection is established between the camera and a host device such as a personal computer and in infrastructure mode the connection runs through a wireless LAN base station to a device connected to the network.

  • Tyrone Biggums

    I tend to support products with modular and open architectures over those with integrated and closed architectures. Out of the two consumer wi-fi cameras, the Kodak Easyshare One has a modular SDIO-based wi-fi architecture, while the Nikon is integrated/closed. The result is that Kodak’s camera has a higher level of “future-proofing” while Nikon’s is not.

    While this is only marginally important as 802.11 pre-N and 802.11N protocols roll out, it is VERY important for the 802.16 Wi-max rollout. There will be Wi-max SDIO cards some day in the near future, and I want to use a digital camera that is SDIO-capable on that day. The Kodak Easyshare One has a decent chance of being ready when that day comes, while the Nikon does not.

    In addition, I’m tired of going through the hassle of managing my images like files on the PC. After a few years of doing it, I’m really ready to save myself some time and get on with the business of sharing and printing my images with as little hassle as possible. If I can go straight to Kodak’s Gallery and share my images immediately without having to mess around with them on my PC, I would love to do that.

    The one thing that intrigues me is the thought of effectively having infinite memory capacity on the Kodak camera since I can offload my video and photo files to the Kodak Gallery. The combination of this plus Wi-max are quite a combination – bypass my cell phone carrier and their data usage fees, bypass my computer hard drive requirements, bypass my PC image management and upload steps…just share and print directly with my friends and family. Plus, I think Kodak developed the ability to capture photos out of the video files when you share them. So now you just share the videos and let everybody choose which ones to print.

    The more I think about, the more I like the Kodak camera over the Nikon. Open/modular wi-fi architecture where it should be for technology future-proofing, and closed/integrated architecture where it reduces unnecessary complexity.

    On the question of wi-fi architecture, modularity is definitely a bonus. Think about it if you were stuck with a custom integrated wi-fi card without PCMCIA slots in your laptop? My old Dell laptop lacked wi-fi, but I had the ability to upgrade through its PCMCIA. I’ve subsequently upgraded to 802.11b, now 802.11g, and I’m buying a new 802.11 pre-N in a month or so. I would get significantly less use out of my hardware if it couldn’t evolve with the tangential technologies. I just wish my USB 1.1 ports were modular so I could fully replace them with USB 2 ports.

    The real question I’m not sure about is whether I want my phone integrated to the camera. Definite positives and negatives both ways, especially as digital cameras disrupt camcorders and require significant hard drive space. The processing power to record in 1080p on your phone would place pretty nasty requirements on that multi-purpose device.